The Sweet Shops of Bootle

Your place to talk about your Bootle memories
jetjockey
Posts: 1375
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 2:42 pm
Location: wigan

IanA wrote:It was indeed. Gower Street - not very big at all - also had a good chippy, a grocer's at the corner of Moore Street, and there was a shop at the Gray Street end but I can't remember what it was. Possibly a shoe shop. There was also a little sweet shop that I used to pass on my way up Gray Street on my way to school but I didn't go in it much. (No money!)
Ian the chip shop was Dickies on the corner of Hood Street when they had the coal fired range we could look out of our door " (57 Hood Street) to see if they were open on the opposite corner was Nash's sweet shop and the next one was Mrs McKenna's on the corner with Gray Street nice old lady but never had much stock in what we referred to as little Gray Street where the school was there were 3 sweet shops one just past Knowsley Road one across from the school had a Beechnut Chewing Gum machine which gave you two every forth penny and just along from there on the same side was Parkers whose son Roy was in my class at Gray Street he was a pupil at Connie. Millington's dance school and had a fair amount of trophies
Just going back to your post in which you mention Conner's on Peel Road I remember being chased out of there for asking how much their penny bangers were did that for a dare we all kept away for a while happy days

JJ
Tempus Pretiosum Utiler Consumtum
IanA
Posts: 421
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 10:25 pm
Location: Scotland

Ah, memories! I don't remember so many sweet shops on Gray Street and I had entirely forgotten about the two Beech Nut for every fourth penny! I used to go to the swimming baths with my dad early on a Sunday morning and he almost always used to get a packet of Wrigley's spearmint chewing gum on the way back home. I thought it was dead sophisticated but I also enjoyed the crunch of Beech Nut.

I got chased because of bangers too - we were letting some off on Gower Street - between Keats Street and Moore Street - when an old guy (probably younger than me now) came out of his house and shouted at us. We scarpered - but, what he didn't know was that, shortly before he had come out of his door, we had stuck a fizzing banger underneath an old tin can which was right behind him as he waved his fist at us. I hope his heart recovered. I also (don't tell anybody) got marched up to school by the policeman on duty at the zebra crossing because I had been letting off bangers up the entry at Gray Street. The shame...
Conlo
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 1:34 pm
Location: West Midlands

Gerrys (or Jerrys) on Park Lane West - sweets, fags, post office.
Ex bootle boy from Hereford Drive - attended OLW & Tommies
bjones
Posts: 4035
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:22 pm

Ian and John, I remember 5 sweet/general shops on what John refers to as little Gray St. First one on the left between Knowsley Rd and Kipling St was called (in our house) Nelly Morris' - don't remember Nelly but my mum obviously did. Next on the left, corner of Falkner St was Hiltons - only place you could get sticky lice. Almost opposite, on the corner of Pope St was Bob Jones', proper grocer with a meat slicer an' everythin'. Then on the same side, near Smollet St, opposite the school was the shop I think was called Shirley's. Last one I remember was, as John says, Parkers' at the corner of Warton St.
My emporiums of choice were Mrs Owen's next door to the Post Office where I worked Saturday afternoons and Dennis' at the top of Bowles St. Dennis made up lucky bags at 3 pence each. They contained a few sweets and 1, 2 or 3 pence. If his ma in law was working when I bought one she'd give the bags a shake til she found one that sounded like it had 3 pennies in it. She said it was because I had blue eyes... or something like that :D
Bee

"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after.
Shelagh
Posts: 1873
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2015 4:40 pm

All those lovely sweetshops bringing back those lovely memories.. particular favourites, "Garners" Knowsley Road, opposite Gainee..Mr Garner would kindly mix an ounce of this and that for me, (could never make my mind up)
"Greenwoods" sweets and groceries, Knowsley Rd, (between builders yard and Doctors surgery) two ounces of loose coconut and a bottle orange juice, (strange choice I know)
Opposite side by bus stop "Shakeys" ice cream and sweet shop, (well known for their lovely Pendletons Ice cream)
On corner of little "Norton" "Kenwrights" lovely posh shop, sold buckets spades, and hoola hoops, as well as perfume, sweets, and everything else...(would purchase my five boys here)
Another shop I loved was "Alexander's" bottom end of "Hornby Road" just under the bridge off "Knowsley" swear that man had the patience of a saint... I would stand on a little wooden bench, originally intended for the elderly, but thought it more appropriate for the smaller grasping hands of a little person (a lofty perch for me to spy all on the penny tray)
Then on to "Costellos" Peel Road, for my sherbet and liquorice, but sometimes, if I had a tanner, a little bit further along would bring me to "Mottrims" (opposite the bag wash) for a lemonade soda..
Now that's what I call living!!
IanA
Posts: 421
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 10:25 pm
Location: Scotland

Blimey! I had forgotten Pendleton's - wonderful stuff!! I'm sure I remember getting sticky lice from a shop on Knowsley Road - we were all marched down from Gray Street school to watch a car drive by which was supposed to contain Princess Margaret - and I (having a spare ha'penny) slipped into this shop and emerged with my bit of twig. I can't say I liked it all that much but it lasted a long time and, with only a ha'penny, you were pretty limited. Looking back, a couple of Fruit Salad might have been better. Arrow bars were good but they cost a penny.
jmoorcroft
Posts: 52
Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:10 am
Location: sefton

Hello Maureen. When we lived the top end of Kirk St the sweet shop was Mrs Mc Connells. I do remember holding a sweet coupon tightly with my thumb and finger afraid it might blow away. When I was maybe 9 or 10 we moved down the street the sweet down the bottom end was George Greens. Jim
jmoorcroft
Liz H
Posts: 38
Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2014 12:26 pm
Location: Buxton

The one I mainly remember was on the corner of Litherland Road and Garden Lane. I think it was called "Paynes", or something like that. I am sure the owner was called Mr Payne. It was next to a pawn shop that was very Dickensian looking when you went inside it, all wood panelled. My Nan used to go in there a lot. I loved going to Paynes for sweets and was always very excited on Wednesday, I think it was, when the Dandy and Beano came out.
Lived in Garden Lane Bootle then moved to Netherton, where my mum still lives.
Eddy Lloyd
Posts: 3333
Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 4:04 pm
Location: Waterloo

Shelagh I'm surprised you never mentioned Mrs Browns facing the park in Peel Road. I used to love the penny tots of sarsaparilla :)
Shelagh
Posts: 1873
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2015 4:40 pm

Eddie, was Mrs Browns on corner of Dryden Street opposite park, if so, only went there for my 3d lucky bags after I'd been to park, wish I'd known about penny tots of sarsaparilla, would definitely have gone for those instead!!
IanA
Posts: 421
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 10:25 pm
Location: Scotland

Dandelion and burdock was better than sarsaparilla. Discuss.
Shelagh
Posts: 1873
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2015 4:40 pm

Ian you may well be right' think dandelion & Burdock could well have had the edge on Sarsaparilla.. all good stuff though, (plants once used for health benefits).
Had to laugh at you're halfpenny twig story, well remember the Bootle schools being taken to Knowsley Road to see official opening of the King George V1 building, 1956,
Protestants on one side, Catholics on the other, never did see anyone get out of the car.....
Such a disappointment!!
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Invicta
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Location: Garden of England

What was that green pop we used to drink ? Ken
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fatboyjoe90
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Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:29 pm
Location: merseyside

Cream soda Ken. :wink:
Cheers Joe.
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Invicta
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Location: Garden of England

Cheers Joe, of course. Cream Soda. I loved that colour, never seen it anywhere else. :D K
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fatboyjoe90
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Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:29 pm
Location: merseyside

I haven’t seen any for years Ken. :wink:
Cheers Joe.
Elaine Goulding
Posts: 871
Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:51 pm
Location: Canada

Ken, cream soda in Canada is pink and does not taste as nice as the green from home!
Elaine

Bianca Street, Bootle - moved to Canada 1982
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efc46
Posts: 416
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:40 am

Mr Mars Marsh Lane Penny red drinks we used to stand on a board it was a great shop all knocked down for the flats Rhyl/Bangor /Conway streets behind Marsh Lane just memories
Davey Rowlands Bootle
Eddy Lloyd
Posts: 3333
Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 4:04 pm
Location: Waterloo

That's the one Shelagh :(
PeterR
Posts: 232
Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 1:16 pm
Location: Evandale Tasmania

How about "Clarks" in the crescent? big jars of all kinds of sweets that we couldnt afford anyway-cant remember her name but the woman in there used get very upset when we would tell her to tame the "Wild Woodbines"
Peterr (Cheeky sod)
Born in Spenser Street
Patricia
Posts: 4576
Joined: Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:00 pm
Location: Virginia

Hi Maureen - Funny you should bring up Brennans - remember Mum used to do most of our shopping
opposite St. Robert Bellamines at Scotts, William Ross and of course Brennans Sweet & Newspaper Shop.
Always looked forward to going into Brennans as the last stop before going home.
When I was married and went back on holiday, Janine used to love to be able to walk up there on her
own every day and purchase her favorite soft drink. We were there for 6 to 8 weeks and our last day
she went in there Mr. Brennan knew exactly what she wanted and when she told him
this was her last day he said: "Thank goodness, because I am now completely sold out and it will take
a few days to reorder and I would hate not to have it for you!!" :D

The only photo I could find of that little shopping center is courtesy I believe, of Vinny.........
Image
unfortunately, it does not show the sweet shop.
maureen howell
Posts: 454
Joined: Sat May 09, 2009 3:53 pm
Location: lydiate

Hi Patricia
Your Mum must have also gone to Irwin's and the Post Office on the other side if Harris Drive.There was a detached chandlers just round the corner from Scotts,I just loved the smell in there....and then there was the CO-Op opposite the Walnut Tree......
Take Care
Maureen
maureen howell
Patricia
Posts: 4576
Joined: Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:00 pm
Location: Virginia

Maureen - It was one of my "Jobs" every Saturday to go to that Post Office with a big brown
and beige looking crockery container and have it filled up with Sasparilla or was it Dandelion
& Burdock? for over the weekend as a special "Treat!" with our Sunday dinner. Believe
the Co-op was at the end but we never for some reason shopped there. There was also
another sweet shop located there where my bros used to purchase their comics and I used
to buy some Girls weekly paperback - can't recall the name....
PeterR
Posts: 232
Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 1:16 pm
Location: Evandale Tasmania

Hi Maureen, after the fire station next to the Walnut had been flattened by a land mine most shop windows had been blown out--the Co Op was one, they replaced it with one about 4ft square, surrounded by wood work-and in that part they had stacked in pyramid style -Cans of beans-jumping up against this we used try and knock all the cans down--until the manager came and chased us-!! :D
I was A good boy-I was!
Peterr
Born in Spenser Street
nicola jackson
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 9:01 am

Josies sweet shop. On the corner of Gloucester Rd and Earl Rd by the Albion. I lived in Worcester rd from 1970 -1979 xx❤️
walter raybould
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2014 9:42 pm
Location: Bootle
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Dooley's ,corner of Fernhill rd and Linacre lane. That shop used to keep a slate for some of its regular customers. But they had to pay it off each weekend.
I remember taking my younger Brother there one day,whilst going on a message for my Mam, that was 1955 and my Bro was about 9 months old,
i came out of the shop with the messages,went straight home to Wolfenden Ave, my Mam said "where is Dave"?, i quickly realized i had left him in his pushchair outside Dooley's. Went back,he was still sat there , sucking his dummy and i have never let him forget . Can anyone remember a shop near to the Carlton Cinema Orrell,?
we could get 1d packets of broken crisp's, they were scrumptious. :)
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Invicta
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Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2015 6:46 pm
Location: Garden of England

I remember Dooley's was the corner of Brookhill Rd & Kent Street, opposite Nolans. Maybe they had two shops. :D Ken
jeand
Posts: 64
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 5:01 pm
Location: bootle

Yes Dooleys did have the two shops. I remember Sambrooks on corner of Kent Street and Hawthorne Road - Mr Sambrook was always whistling! I loved the 1p packet of broken crisps too, they were from the cockle shop opposite the Carlton, don't know the name of shop though.
Bootle born and bred, ex Bootle Grammar School and Bootle Tech. Still living in Bootle.
henry
Posts: 1869
Joined: Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:45 pm

they also had one by the 3 banks on stanley road
HENRY BORN FLORIDA STREET OFF STRAND ROAD
fazerman
Posts: 165
Joined: Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:53 am
Location: Bootle

The sweet shop on corner of Wadham road & hawthorne road was Chappels, the owners son was a very good swimmer his name was Roy, im sure he went to Balliol road school
Matt
Posts: 1198
Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2013 6:02 pm
Location: vancouver island

At the time Chappels was the BIGGEST sweet shop I had ever seen :D :D
and they always had penny bangers on bonfire night. Lovely shop they didn't mind selling you two ounces
of mint humbugs .Still think of that shop when I shop at our local Walmart because they sell Taverners
Mint Humbugs and I can now afford to buy them in half pound packages :D :D :D
Matt
tipster
Posts: 533
Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 7:49 pm
Location: huyton

I worked in the Kiosk corner of Oriel and Balliol for a while, when I think the Radcliffes had it, a brother and sister , from Derby Rd, I used to always go down to the newsagents opposite Oriel Rd train station, every Friday for my weekly Matchbox car, Still can not remember what happened to the massive collection I built up,
Also spent a lot of time at Silks on Queens Rd
TONY
peter c
Posts: 45
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2009 6:21 pm

[quote="nicola jackson"]Josies sweet shop. On the corner of Gloucester Rd and Earl Rd by the Albion. I lived in Worcester rd from 1970 -1979 xx❤️[/quote]

I remember Grace's sweet shop on Park Street. The day rationing of sweets ended they ran out but It only took a few days for them to re stock.
Grace's was also a bookie shop. I lived in Park St. at that time but left for Canada in 1957.
Nice memories.

Peter
peter c
Posts: 45
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2009 6:21 pm

[quote="tipster"]I worked in the Kiosk corner of Oriel and Balliol for a while, when I think the Radcliffes had it, a brother and sister , from Derby Rd, I used to always go down to the newsagents opposite Oriel Rd train station, every Friday for my weekly Matchbox car, Still can not remember what happened to the massive collection I built up,
Also spent a lot of time at Silks on Queens Rd[/quote]
There was also a Silkes on Bedford Road near my Grandmothers house.
I lived on Park Street and visited Gran frequently before leaving for Canada in 1957.
Good memories
Peter
Redsjparker
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2018 10:34 pm

My dad is Roy Parker our family had Parker’s sweet shop mentioned by someone else on here who also mentioned my dads dancing and trophies which he still has .
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